On October 4, 2020, at approximately 1820 hours, the Fresno CHP Communications Center received a call of a traffic collision which occurred on northbound State Route 41 at the State Route 180 transition. Officers from the Fresno Area CHP and medical emergency personnel responded to the scene.
Preliminary investigation indicates, Catherina Monson (21) of Fresno, Ca, while intoxicated, was driving a 2004 Buick Le Saber northbound on State Route 41 and had missed the transition road to State Route 180. Monson unsafely attempted to transition onto State Route 180 but lost control of her vehicle. Monson lost control of her vehicle and struck the concrete center divider between the northbound and southbound lanes of State Route 41. Her vehicle overturned and came to rest blocking the northbound number one lane. As a result, the right front passenger in the Buick sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Neither Monson or the right front passenger are believed to have been wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.
Monson was arrested at the scene for felony DUI (alcohol) and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. She was transported to CRMC for treatment of her injuries and later booked into the Fresno County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.